This week your baby is 4 weeks old – about a month!
Parents usually know about their baby by this time. Some people tell family and friends right away, and others wait until the baby is a little bit bigger to share the exciting news.
The first person the Bible shows Mary sharing her news with is her cousin Elizabeth. When Mary got pregnant, Elizabeth was already 6 months pregnant with John the Baptist. Mary quickly went to visit Elizabeth and help her through the last 3 months of her pregnancy. This event is called the Visitation, and is the second Joyful Mystery of the Rosary. Elizabeth is one of the patron saints of pregnant mothers – you can pray to her for the mother of your adopted baby, and any other pregnant mothers you may know!
Why is the Visitation so important?
Pope Saint John Paul II said that Mary “co-operated from the beginning of her motherhood in the Son’s redeeming work” by bringing Jesus to Elizabeth and John (General Audience, October 2, 1996). When Mary came to Elizabeth, the Holy Spirit filled Elizabeth and little unborn John, and we are told that John leapt in Elizabeth’s womb because he recognized the presence of Jesus! As our mother now, Mary brings Jesus to us! And just as Mary selflessly went to help her cousin Elizabeth, even though Mary herself was also pregnant, Mary selflessly helps us today if we ask her to!
The Visitation also gives us an example in Mary and Elizabeth’s happiness and thankfulness to God. They both rejoice over the wonderful gift of Jesus, but also teach us how we should react to every new little life – with joy and gratitude. Read Luke, chapter 1, verses 39-56 to see what Mary and Elizabeth say – they give us two very special prayers! Mary’s prayer of praise to God is called the Magnificat. Can you recognize where we pray Elizabeth’s prayer?
SAINT SMARTS QUICK QUIZ
DEVELOPMENT JOURNAL
Learn about your own unborn journey by talking to your parents and family! Download your printable journal pages here.
HEART BEAT ACTIVITY
Ask someone to help you. Have an adult feel your pulse and count it while you watch the clock for 1 minute.
How many times did your heart beat in 1 minute?
How does this compare to the baby’s heart beat?
Why do you think that is? (Hint: Watch the video to hear what the Adventure Guides say about your baby’s development this week!)
SPIRITUAL ADOPTION PRAYER
You can download and print Fulton Sheen’s spiritual adoption prayer here, which you should pray every day. The download also includes an extra prayer from Pope Saint John Paul II!
If you want, you can also buy “Family 5-packs” of prayer cards with Fulton Sheen’s prayer on them! You can get them so everyone in your family can carry one around, or give them away to others and encourage them to spiritually adopt a baby as well!
BABY VIDEO
Visit previous Spiritual Adoption activity pages by clicking the week number.
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